MOØ235 Auditing, accounting and business

Contents and structure

This course will explore how digital technologies create or enable radically new business models and reshape the way businesses operate. The world is becoming digital, and the digital revolution is rapidly transforming the fundamental nature of many companies in a wide range of industries. Many start-up companies operate in the fast growing businesses of digital marketing, app development, social media, online news and information services. Moreover, traditional businesses such as publishing, entertainment, and banking are facing an ongoing digitalization. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how Internet, sharing economy, social networks, BigData and mobile communications can create value for businesses in the digital society. The aim of this course is to introduce students to the process of digital transformation and develop the conceptual foundations for understanding the relationships between communities, crowds, and firms in the digital economy. Concepts, models, and economic principles that are useful in analyzing the digital business models will be taught and applied on real-life cases.

The course will address the following issues:

• The economic and technological factors driving the digital revolution and how digital changes transform the business landscape;
• The clash between existing business models and new digitally enhanced business models;
• Central concepts in the context of digital businesses: crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, access/sharing economy, gamification, online communities, new business technologies (IoT, 3D printing), professional blogging;
• Specific characteristics of digital business models and sources of competitive advantage in the digital economy;
• Current and potential future developments in the digital arena and suggestions on digital business models in the economy;
• The opportunities and challenges for international and Norwegian companies in taking part in the digital competition;
• Ethical issues of the digital economy and organizations' use of data.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

On completion of the course, the student will have advanced knowledge about:

• the nature and specifics of digital economy and digitally enhanced business models
• central concepts in the context of digital businesses
• current and potential future developments in the digital economy
• ethical issues of the digital economy and organizations' use of data

Skills

On completion of the course the student will be able to:

• use theories from the course and apply them in analysis of empirical cases
• understand and apply relevant digital strategies and concepts in practice
• analyze opportunities and challenges for companies taking part in the digital competition

General competence

On completion of the course the student can:

• participate in developing business models in companies taking part in the digital competition
• take strategic and knowledge based decisions regarding digital business strategies
• contribute to new thinking and innovation processes in companies facing digitalization challenges

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

Completion of first and second semesters. Basic understanding of business strategy.

Teaching methods

Teaching and learning methods will be a mixture of traditional lecturing, student presentations, class discussions, project work, and supervision on a term paper project. The course will consist of lectures and seminars. On the seminars, the students will make presentations of business cases, participate in discussions and present their course projects. During the semester, students will work on the project that should include theory from the course and analysis of an empirical case. The project will result in a term paper.

The teaching method of the subject will depend on the number of students enrolled in the class.

Compulsory learning activities

One  student presentation during the seminar.

Mandatory assignments are valid the examination semester and 3 following semesters.

Assessment

Exam in two parts:

1. Individual written exam, 4 hours (40% of the final assessment).
2. Written assignment (term paper) by group of 2-3 students (60% of the final assessment).

 

Grading scale is A-F where F is fail.

Both parts must be passed in order to obtain a passing grade in the course.

Examination support material

None

More about examination support material